Stan Laundon

Menu

Categories

The Fettlers

The Teesside Fettlers are one of the longest running folk bands in North East England. They first formed during the early 1960's and have seen many changes in their personnel since those days. A considerable number of the cream of the North East's folk talent has, at one time played with the Fettlers - including Vin Garbutt, Ron Angel and Richard Grainger. They have performed across the UK, on the International circuit at festivals, concerts and on radio and television. They sing mainly about Teesside, North Yorkshire and Durham, telling the story of the development of our region, it's industrial heritage and the beautiful countryside that surrounds it. At their performances, they are well known for providing an enjoyable experience of music, song and anecdotes.

Sites

With acknowledgement and thanks to Alan Wilkinson, Stewart McFarlane MBE and the Teesside Fettlers for the use of "The Hartlepool Monkey" song on this page. Alan's current potted life story is on his website. He is now an artist and samples of his paintings can be viewed there and he'd be delighted if you were to pay him a visit.

It happened in old Hartlepool about the time of France
The Emperor Napoleon was leading us a dance
Sailing down the coast came a British man of war
The captain's pet monkey was washed upon the shore

The Lord Mayor of Hartlepool was walking on the shore
When he came across a funny site he'd never seen before
There was this little fellow sitting on the sand
Holding up a 'nana in his tiny 'airy hand

Chorus

Old folks, young folks, every one and each
Come and see the Frenchie that's landed on the beach
He's got long arms and great long tail, he's covered all in hair
We think that he's a spy so we'll hang him in the square

The Lord Mayor told the town clerk who hurried to the shore
There was a little man where he had been before
Now a crowd had gathered round because it was the funniest sight
Since the timber yard had burnt down the previous Friday night

Chorus

Then Constable Parsons he comes upon the scene
He takes out his note book and he licks his pencil clean
Causing a disturbance is a serious offence
Anything you say may be used in evidence

Chorus

But when that little man spoke a funny thing was heard
Constable Parsons couldn't understand a word
The reason for his puzzlement, the clerk could plainly see
The little man's a foreigner from way across the sea

The little man's a spy the angry crowd did roar
Sent by Napoleon to our native shore
So they grabbed that little fellow by his long hairy tail
Gave him to the copper who put him in the jail

Chorus

They hung that little fellow from a gallows in the town
A rope all round his neck, his tail all hanging down
A lesson to Napoleon to make himself a rule
Not to send his hairy spies to old Hartlepool

Old folks, young folks, every one and each
Come and see the Frenchie that's landed on the beach
He's got long arms and great long tail, he's covered all in hair
We thought he was a spy so we've hung him in the square